RUSSELL Warren and David Ripley led Northamptonshire's recovery after a familiar middle-order collapse had left Hampshire in command at Wantage Road.

The home side slumped from 197-2 to 201-6 in reply to Hampshire's 357 all out, losing four wickets for as many runs in the space of 31 balls either side of tea.

But their seventh-wicket pair posted an unbroken 92 in 29 overs, steering Northants to 293-6 at the close with Warren 87 not out - approaching his first century for two years - and acting captain Ripley on 58.

Warren and Rob Bailey had batted Northants into a strong position, adding 132 for the third wicket. But Bailey's dismissal for 92 in the final over of the afternoon session triggered a spec-tacular slump, with Simon Renshaw removing David Sales and Tony Penberthy with suc-cessive balls.

Shaun Udal then accounted for England tourist Graeme Swann but Warren and Ripley dug in to leave the honours fairly even after two days.

Resuming on 301-8, Hampshire made a brave attempt to secure their fourth batting point, Giles White and Peter Hartley setting about the spinners with relish. They plundered 37 in the first six overs of the morning but still fell a dozen runs short of their target, Devon Malcolm and Paul Taylor subsequently wrapping up the innings with the second new ball.

Malcolm had White caught at extra-cover for 55 and Taylor trapped last man Thomas Hansen leg before, Hartley remaining undefeated on 44 from only 37 balls with eight boundaries.

Bailey and Alec Swann launched Northants' reply with a stand of 62 and the elder Swann looked in prime form as he stroked nine fours, including his first five scoring shots, on his way to a fluent 44.

But he suffered a rush of blood against Udal moments before lunch to give Adrian Aymes an easy stumpings and Renshaw knocked out Mal Loye's off-stump in the next over.

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